Garment finishing apparatus



June 19, 1945. s. .1. LOCKE ET AL GARMENT FINISHING APPARATUS Filed March 7, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet l H Ill) l I l l I I I I I l l I v u 3 m w 3% a J MW 4 4 0 Z I w M T, m W/J/I m m m m f n lllll ll-llllllllllllllllllllIllllll! H MM Rm Y 0 E TJ N N J R 0 wow T IENIU- A W Y B June 19, 1945. v s. .1. LOCKE ET AL 2,373,565

GARMENT FINISHING APPARATUS Filed March 7, 1942 Sheets-Sheet 2 .INVENTOR 39 56 4/ 7 54mm; nae/r5 BY WILLIAM J.' FRANCE Y ORNEY June 19, 1945. LOCKE ET AL 2,378,565

GARMENT FINISHING APPARATUS Filed March 7, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR jA/VFGRD .ILOCKE WILL/AM .Z F am/a r June 19, 1945. 5. J. LOCKE'ET AL 2,378,565

GARMENT FINISHING APPARATUS Filed March 7, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR SAM-0RD ILOCAE BY WILL/4M .IFRA/V'f) ATTORNEY Patented June 19, 1945 2,378,565 GARMENT FINISHING arranarus 4 Sanford J. Locke and William J. Francey, Syracuse, N. Y., assignors to United States Hoffman Machinery Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application March 7 1942, Serial No. 433,738

15 Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus for shaping, finishing and otherwise conditioning garments such as coats. More particularly, the invention relates to apparatus comprising a form covered by a relatively porous bag or envelope over which a garment may be placed and held in suitable position while steam and/r hot air or other fluid garment conditioning medium is blown outwardly through the bag and garment.

Garment finishing apparatus of the foregoing type has been proposed heretofore, and this application relates to improvements in such apparatus making it easier for an unskilled operator to finish properly coats and other garments of varying sizes after only a very short period of training. While each garment should\be properly treated, it is also very important for the apparatus to be adjustable quickly in various respects to make it suitable for different sizes and shapes of garments The value of such a machine can depend in large measure on the rate at which garments can be finished by an operator of only average skill, because the apparatus is intended for use in cleaning establishments, large and small, in all types of localities.

One object of this invention is the provision oi a garment finishing apparatus of the bag covered type in which an eflicient clamp for the front portion of t e garment is adjustable vertically to adapt it for coats and other garments of different lengths.

A further object of the invention is the provision of such a clamp in combination with a bag confining means which is simultaneously adjustedv automatically to control the shape of the bag near the bottom of the garment.

A further object of the invention is the provision of adjustable shoulder supports which can be easily positioned independently of each other when the garment is subjected to the finishing operations regardless of the size of the garment being treated.

Another object of the invention is the provision of garment finishing apparatus which includes automatically adjustable means separate from the bag for properly positioning and supporting the back of the coat or. other garment.

A further object of the invention is the prosion of apparatus of the character described in which steam and/or hot air are released within the bag at a point near the lower portion of the garment to provide an improved distribution of treating fluid throughout the garment.

Other objects will be explained and will be apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a garment finishing apparatus with portions in section to illustrate the interior construction.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the apparatus with portions shown in section.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view on an enlarged scale, taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figures 4 and 5 are horizontal sectional views of the apparatus,.taken on. the lines 44 and 5-5, respectively, of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a sectional view showing one of the shoulder supports, taken on the line 6-6 of Fi ure 1.

Figure '7 is a side elevation of one of the shoulder supports showing the manner in which it is attached to the interior of the bag.

The preferred embodiment of finishing apparatus illustrated in the drawings comprises aframe work l0, covered by a casing ll made of sheet metal or other suitable material, and supporting inside the casing a blower l2 driven by a motor 13. The outlet of the blower I2 is connected by a duct Hi communicating through the top of the casing II with a suitable hollow casting l5 having a supporting flange I5a, and with the interior of a rigid sheet metal form iii of generally cylindrical shape attached thereto. The inlet side of the blower is connected to a steam radiator H, which may be of conventional structure for heating the air, and is supplied with steam from the main supply pipe l8. Steam con. densin in the radiator I1 is drawn off through the condensate return pipe l9.

Steam is also supplied through a pipe to a conduit 2| inside and integral with the casting l5 that leads into a chamber 22 in the nature of a steam separator. Steam coming into this chamber is directed downwardly into the chamber by the overhanging lip 23, and any moisture or condensate is drawn off from the bottom of the separator by the return pipe 24 which may be connected to the main condensate return pipe IS. A suitable valve 25 is connected to the top of the chamber 22 and regulates the supply of steam to an outlet nozzle 26 provided with a row of perforations 21 and surrounded by a screen 28 for the escape of steam.

The valve 25 is operated by means of a rod 29 pivotally connected at its lower point to one end of an arm 30 and urged upwardly by the spring 29a. The arm 30 is pivotally supported by the frame In or a bracket 3| at its other end. Arm 30 and the rod 29 may be pulled down to open the valve 25 by pressing down the foot pedal 82 carried on the end of rod 88 which is pivotally supported by the frame II at its other end 84 and is connected by the short rod 45 to an intermediate point on the arm 88.

As the pedal 82 is pr down, a pair of pivotally arranged toggle links 84 and 81 connecting rod 88 to the frame I. are straightened out to lock the pedal in its depressed position. To raise the arm 88 and rod 28, the pedal 88 is depressed pivoting about the pin 38 on bracket 48 and forcing its off-set end piece 4| against the toggle links 88 and 31. This release of the rod 38 from the locking action of toggle links 85 and 31 permits the spring 28a to raise rod 28 and thus close the valve 25.

The flow of warm air driven through the duct I4 by the blower l2 may be controlled by a damper 42 located in the duct l4. This damper may be fixed to a rod 48 extending through the duct l4 nd carrying on its outer end a crank 44. The damper may be easily moved by an operator by simply adjusting the position of a pivotally supported lever 45 carrying a bifurcated lower end 46 that engages the crank 44.

To prevent the damper from flopping around loosely, a simple friction spring 41 may be interposed between a suitable collar 48 on the rod and the outer surface of the duct l4. The damper will thus remain in any adjusted position. This damper is preferably adjusted so that in the closed position a small amount of air will be passed to keep the bag partially inflated.

The shell 5 forming the body portion of the rigid form may be rotatably secured at its lower end to the casting l5 by means of an annular plate 48 and a suitable gasket 58 of felt or other material bolted to the casting l5. This form I8 is preferably of generally cylindrical shape but is provided with suitable openings 5| through which steam and hot air may be discharged.

The upper portion of this shell l8 preferably supports a second rigid metal shell 52, which is shaped to provide a breast-plate for the form with suitable openings 53 therein, and which terminates at its upper end in the shape of a neck 54. This upper shell 52 has relatively large openings 55 at the sides for the mounting of movable shoulder supports.

These shoulder supports are complemental in structure and shape, so that a description of one of them will suflice for an understanding of their structure and operation. Each support is carried by an arm 58 pivotally supported on a bolt 5.! threaded into a lug 58 integral with the lower portion of the shell 52. A friction spring 58 may be interposed between the arm 58 and the head of bolt 51 to prevent the arm 58 from moving back and forth too freely. At its upper end, the arm 58 is fixed by a set screw or bolt 88 to a, horizontally disposed bar 8|. Bar 8| is connected by means of straps 82, 88' to a second bar 64, the four elements being movable about the bolts 85 in the manner of a parallel ruler.

A bracket 88 is formed integral with the bar 84, and is provided with a depending lug 81 which strikes the plate 88 to limit outward movement ofthe shoulder piece. Bracket 88 is also provided with a lug 88 adapted to strike against the brace 18 and limit inward movement of the shoulder piece. Brace 18, in addition, limits upward movement of the straps 82 and 53 thus preventing lug 81 from slipping past the plate 88. Fixed to the top of the bracket 88 by means of the bolts II is a shoulder piece 12 consisting (see Fig. 7).

ofthoclosedringl8inthegeneralshapeofan inverted U reinforced by a central cross bar I4 The shoulder piece 12 is fixed in place so that it is inclined in two directions. The top portion of the shoulder piece is tipped outwardly and the front portion of the shoulder piece is tipped inwardly toward the main portion of the form.

The entire form, consisting of the shell l8, the upper shell 52 and shoulder supports 12, is covered by a bag or envelope 1! made of a suitable' fabric such as celanese rayon. Various other fabrics, of course, may be'used instead, but it is preferred to employ a fabric having a relatively smooth surface and a fairly close weave.

The upper end of the bag 15 fits over the neck 54, and the body portion of the bag extends downwardly and encases the shell l8. The lower end of the bag. which is open, may be secured by a draw string I8, or other suitable means, into tight engagement with the lower portion of the shell l8. To hold the bag down when steam or hot 'air is discharged inside of it, weights such as metal chain 11 or other weights may be placed on th lower portion of the bag to hold down the lower edge.

The upper \portion of the bag is preferably formed with aian bags 18 which are arranged to cover the shoulder supports, and which are open at their lower ends. These arm bags may be of such a length that they extend approximately to or slightly below the elbow of the ordinary coat. Draw strings may be sewed to the inside of the bag near the shoulders and tied in the form of loose loops 18 about the upper portion of the shoulder pieces 12 (see Fig. 7). This permits the shoulder pieces I2 to adjust themselves to some extent and at the same time serves to keep the bag in proper position with respect to the form. The lower ends of the armbag or arm pockets may be secured together by draw strings 88 and, if desired, weights 8| may be placed in these arm pockets for easy insertion in the arms of a garment.

Near the bottom of the shell It, a bracket 82 formed with two arms 82a, is fastened by rivets or bolts to the shell. A pair of rods 88 are screwed into sockets in the ends of the arms 82a and extend in directions parallel to each other and approximately tangent to the shell l6. (See Fig. 4.) These rods 83 are provided with knobs 84 on their outer ends and serve as fixed trolleys for the pulleys 85 and blocks 88. Connected to the blocks 88 are extension coil springs 81 with hooks at their upper ends to engage the lower corners of an apron 88.

This apron 88 is preferably made of relatively rough, heavy material such as canvas or duck, and consists of a strip extending down the back portion of the bag but running over the neck 54 and extending part way down over the breastplate portion of the shell 52, as illustrated at 88 in Fig. 2. The lower edge of the apron portion 89 may be secured in place by stitching to the bag 15, or may be simply left hanging free, as desired.

The fixed bracket 82 may have a vertical rod 88 fixed thereto by threads or other suitable means, and serves to support in slidable relation an adjustable clamp for the front portion of garments to be finished. This front clamp may include a casting 8| provided with two hollow lugs 82 to slide up and down on the rod 88. A clamping plate 83 is fixed to the upper portion of this casting 8| by .rivets or bolts and is of genorally triangular shape in front'elevation although curved about a vertical axis.

A movable clamping plate 94 is plvotally supported on the arm 95 by the pin 96 and is of substantially the same shape as plate 93, except that it is provided with a vertical groove 91 centrally located to prevent squeezing the buttons of a coat between the two plates 93 and 94 and permit the clamping of the plates directly onthe coat fabric. Arm 95 is forked .at its lower end (see Fig. l) and is bolted to a lever 99. Lever 99 is pivotally supported at its inner end by pin 99 extending through a lug I00 formed on the lower portion of the castingjl. A suitable'handle I0l may be provided for moving the lever 99 up and down, and thus closing or opening the clamping plates 99 and 94. I

Springs I02 connect the sides of arm 95 to the ears I09 formed integral with the casting 9|. These springs tend to pull the arm 95 in towards the body of the apparatus, thus urging plate 94 towards plate 93.

A suitable latch I04 may be pivotally secured by pin I040 to the lever 99 so that when the handle IN is pressed down, pulling plate 94 away from the form, the end of latch I04, which is pressed down by the compression spring I04b, engages the lug I00 to hold the clamping plates apart. By pressing down on the outer end I06 of latch I04, this engagement is broken however, permitting the springs I02 to pull the clamping plate 94 back into clamping position. The springs I02 should, of course, be adjusted to provide the necessary clamping force between plates 93 and 94.

Attached to the lower portion of the casting II are the flattened ends of an annular tube or rod I01. This rod I01 extends around the bottom of the form outside of the bag 15. thus serving to confine the lower portion of the bag and prevent ballooning when steam or hot air is released inside the bag. The casting 9| and parts carried thereby are free to rotate to some extent about the rod 90, but any such rotation is restricted by the annular rod or tube I01.

Referring now to the operation of the device illustrated which is designed particularly for finishing coats. The coat is first placed over the form and bag 15, the arm pockets 18 of the bag being tucked inside the arms of the coat where they drop into place because of the weights 8|. The front of the coat is then buttoned or secured in place outside the plate 93, the plate 94 having previously been pulled away from the plate 93 by pressing down-on the handle IOI until the latch I04 has engaged the lug I05.

The front portion 99 of the apron 88 serves to provide a reinforced breast-plate over the upper portion of shell 52 to support the coat lapels and fill up the space therebetween.

The handle MI is now lifted, sliding up the casting 9I on rod 90 and lifting the annular rod I01 and the clamping plates 93 and 94 until the lower edges of the latter are approximately even with the lower edge of the coat. At this point, the latch I06 is depressed and clamping plate 94 is allowed to "be pulled forward by springs Hot air is now forced into the shell I0 and thence out through the bag and the fabric of the coat by moving the lever 45 to-open the damper 42 in conduit I 4. At the same time, or subsequent to this treatment, if desired, steam may be released from the openings 21 inside the shell I0 by pressing down on the pedal 32. The entire bag is, of course,.filled like a balloon by either the steam or hot air treatment and thus serves to force the shoulder portions of the bag firmly against the inside of the coat'shoulders. By reason of the attached draw strings 19, the shoulder pieces 12 are likewise thrust firmly against the inside of the shoulders, regardless of the size of the coat. These shoulder pieces, by reason of the parallel link arrangement of bars BI and 64 and'their connecting straps 62, 63, can easily be adjusted independently of each other by the operator, either forward or backward, without substantially altering the inclination of theshoulder pieces 12 to the vertical. At the same time, these shoulder pieces Swing inwardly or outwardly about the bolts 51 which are located far enough awa to avoid changing their angle of inclination substantially as the adjustment takes place.

The back of the coat may be shaped during the hot air treatment by rubbing it gently upwards or pulling it down, as may be required, the coat holding its position in any desired form because of adhesion to the relatively rough surface of the apron 88.

After the garment has been suitably steamed, the pedal 38 may be depressed to raise rod 29 and shut off the steam. If desired, the garment may then be dried by continuing the flow of hot air into the bag. When the garment is properly shaped and finished, both steam and hot air are shut ofi, handle IN is pressed down to engage latch I05 and release the clamping plates 93, 94, and the coat is removed from the apparatus. All that is necessary to complete the treatment of the coat is pressing of a crease in the sleeves or otherwise'shaping the cufis of the sleeves, as may be desired.

A particular advantage of a garment finishing apparatus constructed in accordance with our invention is the ease with which the form and clamps are adjusted to condition garments of different sizes and shapes. The shoulder supports easily move inwardly to simplify the procedure of putting on and taking off the garment, but when fluid is released under pressure inside the bag 15, these supports adjust themselves rapidly to the shape and size of the garment. By reason of their independent adjustability, the operator can easily move these supports into the proper position even if the shoulders of the coat are difierent from each other.

The adjustable clamping plates 93 and 94 are always applied by springs with just the right pressure to hold the coat securely without forming undesired creases in it. When the plates are adjusted to position, moreover, the bag confining rod I01 is automatically adjusted to prevent undue ballooning of the bag just below the lower edge of the coat. If such a device were not provided, the bottom of the coat might be shaped with an objectionable outward flare.

The particular structure of the guide for maintaining the apron 88 under tension that is illustrated in the drawings is not essential, but some form of apron under a slight tension down the back of the form is very desirable for facilitating the shaping of the backs of coats.

. level.

We have found that it is very desirable to release the steam inside the bag at a point below the center of the form instead of at a higher use of such terms and expressions, of excluding any equivalents of the features shown and described or portions thereof, but recognize that various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention claimed.

We claim:

1; In apparatus for finishing garments, a form, a flexible porous covering over said form, means for discharging a garment conditioning fluid under pressure inside said covering, and garment supports inside said covering that are movable outwardly under the influence of said fluid under pressure.

2. In apparatus for finishing garments, a form, a flexible porous covering over said form, means for discharging a garment conditioning fluid under pressure inside said covering, and shoulder supports for a garment adjustable in directions toward and away from the form and also frontwards and backwards with respect to the form.

3. In apparatus for finishing garments, a form, a flexible porous covering over said form, means for discharging a garment conditioning fluid under pressure inside said covering, and adjustable shoulder supports secured to said covering so that they are moved outwardly by the discharge of fluid inside said covering.

4. In apparatus for finishing garments, a form, a flexible porous covering over said form, 'means for discharging a garment conditioning fluid under pressure inside said covering, and shoulder supports pivotally attached to said form and secured to said covering so that they are adjusted by the discharge of fluid inside said covering.

5. In apparatus of the character described, in combination, a garment supporting form having horizontally aligned shoulder portions, a pair of shoulder supports, and means for adjustably securing said supports to said form comprising two relatively long upright arms, means at the lower ends of said arms pivotally mounting them within said form for movement of their upper ends toward and away from each other substantially at the level of said shoulder portions of the form, and means pivotally mounting said shoulder supports at the upper ends of said arms.

6. In apparatus of the character described, in combination, a garment supporting form having horizontally aligned shoulder portions, a pair of relatively long approximately vertical arms pivotally supported at their lower ends upon said form for movement about substantially parallel horizontal axes to rock their upper ends toward and away from the shoulder portions of the form, a member pivotally mounted for movement about a substantially vertical axis at the upper end of each of said arms, a pair of links pivotally supported at their inner ends upon each of said members for parallel movements in substantially horizontal planes, brackets pivotally connected to said pairs of links at their outer ends and rockable by parallel movements of said links, and

shoulder supports secured respectively to said brackets.

7. In apparatus for finishing garments, a form, a flexible porous covering over said form, means for discharging a garment conditioning fluid under pressure inside said covering. a fabric apron outside of and extending down the back of said covering, and means for placing said apron under tension longitudinally.

8. In apparatus for finishing garments, a form, a flexible porous covering over said form, means for discharging a garment conditioning fluid under pressure inside said covering, an apron oi fabric having a relatively rough surface extending down the back of said covering, and tensioning means connected to the lower portion of said apron, said tensioning means being free to adjust itself toward or away from the lower portion of the form.

9. Garment finishing apparatus comprising a substantially rigid form, a fabric bag covering said form, means for discharging garment conditioning fluid under pressure inside said bag, and clamping means to hold the lower portion of a garment placed over said bag and form comprising a pair of mutually vertically adjustable and relatively movable plates adapted to clamp between their opposing surfaces lower portions of garments of different lengths, manual means for accomplishing said vertical adjustment and relative movement of said clamping plates, and spring means associated with said manual means for holding the plates both in vertical adjustment and clamping position.

10. Garment finishing apparatus comprising a substantially rigid form, a fabric bag covering said form, means for discharging garment conditioning fluid under pressure inside said bag, and clamping means to hold the lower portion of a garment placed over said bag and form comprising a pair of mutually vertically adjustable and relatively movable plates adapted to clamp between their opposing surfaces lower portions of garments of different lengths, manual means for accomplishing said vertical adjustment and relative movement of said clamping plates, and spring means associated with said manual means for holding the plates both in vertical adjustment and clamping position, said clamping plates being shaped to hold together the lower portion of the front panels of a coat or similar garment placed over said bag and form, and one at least of said plates being shaped to straddle a row of buttons on said garment.

11. Garment finishing apparatus comprising a substantially rigid form, a fabric bag covering said form, means for discharging garment conditioning fluid under pressure inside said bag, garment clamping means adjustable in a vertical direction for garments of different lengths, and bag confining means connected to said clamping means and movable therewith.

l2. Garment finishing apparatus comprising a substantially rigid form, a fabric bag covering said form, means for discharging garment conditioning fluid under pressure inside said bag, a vertically adjustable frame supported near the lower portion of said bag and form, garment clamping means supported on said frame, and bag confining means carried by said frame.

13. Garment finishing apparatus comprising a form, a fabric bag covering said form, means for discharging a garment conditioning fluid under pressure inside said bag, and shoulder supports arranged inside said bag and connected thereto, said supports being adjustable independently of each other in directions forwards, backwards, inwardly and outwardly with respect to said form.

14. Garment finishing apparatus comprising a form, a fabric bag covering said form, means for discharging a garment conditioning fluid under pressure inside said bag, a vertically adjustable clamp for the front portion of a garment, and bag confining means connected thereto for vertical adjustment therewith, said confining means being spaced a short distance below the bottom of said clamp to confine the bag automatically at a point Just below the lower edge-of the garment.

15. Garment finishing apparatus comprising a form, a fabric bag covering said form, means for discharging a garment conditioning fluid under pressure inside said bag, independently adjustable shoulder supports mounted inside the bag, a vertically adjustable clamp for the front portion of the garment, bag confining means below and connected to said clamp, and a fabric apron under 7 tension extending outside down the back portion of said bag.

' SANFORD J. LOCK)! WILLIAM J. FRANCI 

